Representative Admits to Falsifying Testimony in Custody Case

In a significant legal development, Representative Max Miller’s attorney has acknowledged that Miller provided false testimony in court to secure a protection order against his ex-wife. The attorney is now advocating for sanctions against the attorney representing Miller’s ex-wife.

Back in February, lawyers for Miller, a Republican from Ohio, filed a statement alleging that Miller’s girlfriend witnessed a custody exchange on February 1. At that exchange, his ex-wife, Emily Moreno, who is the daughter of Senator Bernie Moreno, accused Miller of grabbing her arm and pushing her against a wall.

Miller strongly denied the abuse claims in a notarized statement, asserting that his girlfriend J.A. was at his home during the custody exchange, stating it was a “habit” for them to monitor the situation due to Moreno’s unpredictable behavior.

Miller also claimed that his girlfriend provided a statement to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and that a private investigator confirmed her presence during that custody exchange, indicating she did not hear any disturbances.

Further, Miller referenced surveillance footage, allegedly from a Ring doorbell camera, suggesting it illustrated that Moreno appeared to be in good spirits and showed no signs of having been a victim of domestic violence.

During a subsequent court hearing, when asked if the footage confirmed his girlfriend’s presence before the custody exchange, Miller affirmed that it did.

However, two weeks later, Moreno’s attorney reached out via email, suggesting it was “unlikely” Miller was actually at home during the exchange, yet they maintained that the recorded interaction showed no altercation took place.

Questions remain about how Miller’s attorney came to the conclusion that his girlfriend could have possibly been left at his home during the exchange.

A review of some of the footage reveals Moreno saying “goodbye” and Miller expressing “I love you” to their 2-year-old daughter as she departed with her ex-girlfriend, despite claims of an alleged abusive encounter.

Miller’s attorney emphasized that the video demonstrates Moreno was not in distress, portraying her in a joyful mood while Miller acted affectionately toward his daughter and ex-wife. Moreno’s attorney has since requested that Miller’s legal team withdraw or alter their protection order against her.

When this request was declined, Moreno’s attorney filed a motion seeking court-sanctioned penalties against Miller’s attorney and compensation for his legal fees.

Moreno’s attorney asserted that Miller is misusing legal channels to avoid consequences in their custody battle, labeling the domestic violence allegations as unfounded and merely tactics for leverage.

Background of Legal Issues

Miller had initiated a lawsuit against Moreno to restrict her access to their daughter amid a custody dispute stemming from their contentious divorce. Although a judge approved a protection order for Miller, they indicated no evidence warranted extending protection to the child at that time.

Moreno’s legal team is alleging that this confrontation wasn’t the first time Miller was accused of aggression during custody exchanges. Adding to the tensions, Moreno filed a report with the relevant county department, indicating that her daughter suffered injuries while in deputy custody.

The situation has become quite taxing for Miller, who expressed a desire for the media focus to shift away from his ex-wife, citing her mental health struggles.

A former White House aide during the Trump administration, Miller was elected to Congress in 2022 and has been involved in multiple high-profile positions within the government. He married Moreno in 2022 at Trump National Golf Club, but they divorced in 2024, with Miller committed to a monthly child support payment.